Thermo-electric pile.



m. 7|5,265. v Patented Dec. 9, I902. A. HEIL.

THERMO-ELEGTBIG PILE.

( Application filed Apr. 22, 1902.)

(No ModeL) 3 n ueuto'a witnuaoo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBRECHT HEIL, OF FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO AVWOLF, J R., 85 (30., OF FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY, A FIRM.

TH ERMO- ELECTRlC PILE.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715. dated December 9, 1902- Application filed April 22, 1902. Serial No. 104,190. (No model.)

To all whom, it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, ALBRECHT I-IEIL, a subject of the German Emperor, residing and having my post-ofiice address at 3 Both- 5 schildsallee, Frankfort,- on-the- Main, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermo-Electric Piles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has for its object the to construction of a thermo-electrical pilewhich distinguishes itself advantageously from similar piles hitherto in use by its considerablyincreased efficiency, its enormous constancy, and the short time it requires for heating.

In the subjoined drawings, Figure I represents a side view of a couple or element connected to the cooling-plate Ct. Fig. II shows a front view of three couples connected in series. Figs. III and IV represent a difierout constructional example of a couple and the arrangement of the working flame.

Each couple comprises, onthe one hand, the quite particularly shaped strap 1), which may consist of a nickel alloy, and, on the other hand, of the block 0, cast of an antimony alloy. On one of its ends the strap 19 is of one casting with the block 0. For a short distance it runs firsthorizontally, afterward upward, and finally for a long distance backward again below the block 0 and beyond same. This special form of the strap 1) is due to the necessity to make the most advantageous possible use of the working flame I burning below its perpendicular part. vA direct transmission of heat takes place on the short horizontal and on the neighboring perpendicular part of the strap 1), thence indirectly through its end cast into the block 0, to the junction and to the block 0.

4o horizontally-conducted long top part of the strap 19 necessary cooling takes place partly through irradiation and partly through the deviation produced by a copper strip 01 soldered to the cold end.

5 The block a, .with the strap 1), is soldered to a perfectly-isolated vertical. sheet of copper a, which is directed parallel to the direction of the outer air streaming toward the flame, and which sheet of copper serves the couples as a cooling appliance and as abearer.

In the Figs. III and IV represent a special com-. position of a couple granting a greater and more complete utilization of the heat of the flame. The short horizontal (under certain circumstances also the perpendicular) part of the strap Z), the heat-conducting power of which is relatively small, is replaced by a metal piece of very good conductivity for heat. For such purpose a short silver strap is very suitable, which strap is molten on one end to the strap 1) and on the other to the block 0, but at any rate in such a manner that it produces an intimate and organic connection of the two thermo-electrically effective bodies I) and c. The transmitter heated by the working flame e, is a good conductor of heat and takes up heat, owing to its large surface and its reduced volume, and delivers it continually to the two effective bodies I) and 0 connected to it, which bodies are thus amply and uniformly heated without their junction being directly exposed to the working flame and the more easily fusible body exposed to the danger of meltingoffat the junction.

I may suggest that silver or copper alloys of great heat-conducting power, or silver-plated copper strips may be substituted to pure silver strips without altering the principle of the present invention of a heat-transmitter. Instead of with silver the copper strip may also be plated with gold.

' What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A thermoelectric element or couple comprising a block, a strap connected to the block extending horizontally then upward and backward and over the block, and a strip connected to the extended end of said strap, substantially as described.

2. A thermo-electric element or couple comprising a block, a strap connected to the block and bent to extend upward and over the block, a strip connected to the extended endof the strap and a sheet connected to the strip, sub- 95 stantially as described;

3.- A thermo-electric elementor couple comprising a block, a strapconnected to the block and extending upward and over the block, a

strip connected to the extended end of the 1 00 strap and a sheet supporting the block and connected to the strip, substantially as described.

4. Athermo-electric element or couple comprising a block and a strip connected to the block, a sheet arranged parallel to the plane of the couple supporting the block and connected to the strap, substantially as described.

5. A thermo-electric couple comprising a block, a strap, a heat-transmitter, both ends being connected to the Warm ends of the couple and adapted to be exposed to the source of heat, substantially as described.

6. A thermo-electric element or couple comprising a block of antimony alloy, a strap of nickel alloy, one of its ends being cast to the block and being bent to extend upward and 

